This $15 DIY Is An Iconic Designer Dupe That’s Worth Thousands

TL;DR

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A recent Apartment Therapy report describes TikTok creator Nick Lowry’s low-cost bathroom-door DIY, using circular acrylic mirrors to evoke designer Jean Prouvé’s porthole doors. Lowry said an eight-pack of 12-inch mirrors cost $15 and recommended removable tape for a rental; the look is an interpretation, not a Prouvé door.

TikTok creator Nick Lowry has shared a bathroom-door makeover using 12-inch circular acrylic mirrors to echo the porthole doors of designer Jean Prouvé. Apartment Therapy reported that Lowry put the materials cost at about $15, offering renters a removable decorative alternative to a costly designer feature.

In the video described by Apartment Therapy, Lowry said he admired Prouvé’s porthole doors because they let light pass into spaces, but that he rents and could not afford an original. Instead, he attached circular mirrors to a bathroom door, using their reflective surfaces to brighten a dim area and create a round-window effect. The result is inspired by the design; it is not a reproduction of Prouvé’s door.

Lowry said he found a set of 12-inch acrylic mirrors on Amazon. He initially described a pack of 12 costing $25, while Apartment Therapy also pointed readers to an eight-piece set priced at $15 with adhesive strips. The report does not specify which listing or exact product Lowry ultimately used. For easier removal when moving, Lowry recommended using 3M tape rather than relying on the supplied adhesive.

For his own layout, Lowry chose three mirrors in a centered vertical column and said he planned to place mirrors on both sides of the door to reflect light through the bathroom. He used a digital photo editor to test arrangements before measuring. His reported measurements were 22⅛ inches from the top and bottom, 11 inches from each side, and 4.5 inches between mirrors. Those dimensions apply to his door and are not a standard installation guide.

A Low-Cost Option for Renters

The project illustrates how a renter can borrow a recognizable design idea without buying a custom door or making permanent changes. The reported $15 price is far below the cost of an original designer piece, though it covers the mirrors rather than necessarily every material or tool involved. For renters, removable mounting may also make it easier to restore a door before moving out.

Mirrors can reflect available light and visually suggest greater depth, but the effect depends on the room’s lighting, door size, and placement. Lowry said the mirrors brightened a previously shadowed corner and helped his bathroom match the “jewelbox” look he was building. That is his account of the result, not a measured assessment of the change in light.

Prouvé’s Porthole-Door Inspiration

Jean Prouvé was a French designer and architect associated with modernist furniture and architecture. His porthole doors are a design reference for Lowry’s project because their circular openings bring a window-like feature to a door. Apartment Therapy characterized such doors as costing thousands of dollars, but the report did not provide a specific model, seller, or current price estimate.

The DIY also draws on a familiar interior-design technique: using mirrors to reflect light and make a compact space feel more open. Lowry adapted that principle to a bathroom door rather than installing a new door or cutting openings into the existing one. The distinction matters: his approach recreates a visual impression with reflective discs; it does not transmit light through the door as an actual porthole would.

“This is how you transform your bathroom door for under $15 in a renter-friendly way.”

— Nick Lowry, in a TikTok video quoted by Apartment Therapy

Price and Installation Details

The report does not establish the exact product Lowry installed: it mentions both a 12-piece pack priced at $25 and an eight-piece set priced at $15. The headline’s $15 figure appears to refer to the lower-priced set, but the article does not confirm that this was the pack used in the video or whether shipping, tape, and other supplies were included.

There is also no independent measurement of how much light the mirrors added, and the report does not describe the door’s material, finish, or condition. Adhesive performance and removal can vary by surface and product. Lowry’s suggestion to use 3M tape is his recommendation; the source does not provide a tested guarantee that it will leave every rental door undamaged.

Adapt the Layout to Your Door

Lowry’s method leaves the final arrangement to the homeowner or renter. Anyone following the idea can first mock up the mirror positions digitally or with paper circles, then check spacing against the dimensions of their own door. The 22⅛-inch, 11-inch, and 4.5-inch measurements in the report describe Lowry’s installation and should not be treated as universal dimensions.

Before attaching anything, renters can check their lease and test a small, inconspicuous area with the chosen removable tape, following its product directions. The report does not identify a follow-up update from Lowry or provide a long-term account of removal. Whether the finish stays intact over time, and how the mirrors perform in different bathrooms, remains dependent on the materials and conditions.

Key Questions

What is the $15 bathroom-door DIY?

It uses circular acrylic mirrors attached to a bathroom door to create a visual reference to Jean Prouvé’s porthole doors. TikTok creator Nick Lowry shared the project, and Apartment Therapy reported a price of about $15 for an eight-mirror set.

Did Lowry install an actual Jean Prouvé door?

No. Lowry described his project as a DIY inspired by Prouvé’s design. The mirrors create a round, reflective look but do not turn the door into an original porthole door or allow light to pass through it.

How many mirrors did Lowry use?

Lowry said he preferred a centered column of three mirrors, with mirrors on both sides of the door. The report does not clearly confirm the total number he installed or which mirror pack he bought.

Is the installation guaranteed to be renter-safe?

No such guarantee is provided in the report. Lowry recommended 3M tape for easier removal, but adhesive results vary with the tape and door surface. Renters should check their lease and the product instructions before mounting mirrors.

Source: rss